Roll paper storage receptacle and dispensing holder



ROLL PAPER STORAGE RECEPTACLE AND DISPENSING HOLDER Filed May 11. 1954 July 28, 1959 J. E. wodDRu FF 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u 5 a m .\1-/, f 6 1% m J A V n 4 g n H U w "Dr!" Y 1 I\L .I"""" ""',""'l"//4Pl- N N m 5 2 l 2 4 2 w n w n a 3 m .w. m l I. L N\N N NN \\\\\\\\N 4 a r1; 5 4 W 9 u 4 A 0 m M m 2 H 3 V v n. a 3 7 8 4 3 n 0 M w H w.. 2 2

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m m m m United States Patent ROLL PAPER STORAGE RECEPTACLE AND DISPENSING HOLDER James E. Woodrnff, Oakland, Calif.

Application May 11, 1954, Serial No. 429,037

10 Claims. (Cl. 24255.3)

The present invention relates to improvements in rolled paper holders and particularly is directed to improvements in toilet paper holders.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a combinationv toilet paper storage receptacle and dispensing holder wherein a used or spent roll will be automatically released while a new roll is being automatically put in place for use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for holding a roll of toilet paper in position for use and to provide means for storing a replacement roll thereabove, both of such means being connected together in such a manner that each'is simultaneously operated to release the used roll and the replacement roll.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means for catching the replacement roll and positioning it in a position to be engaged by the means for holding a roll for present use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and compact automatic mechanism for replacing used rolls and to provide an attractive casing for housing such mechanism and the rolls of paper.

An embodiment of the present invention is shown in the attached drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the paper storage receptacle and holder;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the rolls in their released positions.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 generally designates a rectangular casing, which has opposing side walls 2 and 3 and a top wall 4. The side walls are connected by a rear wall 5 and by a front wall 6. The bottom wall 7 of the casing is hinged by means of a hinge pin 8 to the side walls and is provided with a spring 9 that holds it in place. The bottom wall 7 has a projecting lip 10 which extends laterally beyond the front wall 6 and provides the means by which the bottom wall 7 may be pulled downwardly to an open posi tion in opposition to the biasing of spring 9. The spring has its ends suitably fixed to the bottom wall 7 and to the rear wall 5 as shown in Figure 4.

The front wall 6 is formed with a transverse slot 11 for the passage of the toilet paper to the outside of the casing. Also, the front wall has an opening, which is closed off by a door 12 that ishinged by means of a rod 13 attached at its ends in suitable bearings carried by the side walls 2 and 3. A spring 14, similar in construction and mounting to the spring 9, is provided for keeping the door l2 closed. The lower-free end of the door 12 has an outstanding pull 15 formed thereon, whereby the 2,896,871 Patented July 28, 1959 door may be pulled outwardly and swung upwardly to an open position. The door is provided to place a replacement roll 16 in thelcasing above the roll 17, which is in use. The roll 17 is rotatably supported between the side walls 2 and 3 by rollers 18 and 19 which extend into the ends of the core 20.

The rollers 18 and 19 are rotatably mounted on pins 21, which project laterally from arms 22 and 23, which form the holder for the roll of paper; The arms 22 and 23 have integral laterally extending ears 24, which are positioned between a pair of spaced apart ears 25 and 26 that are suitably formed on the exterior surface of the side walls 2 and 3 and laterally extend therefrom as shown in Figure 1. Pivot pins 27 connect the ears together with the arms being vertically disposed on the outside of the side walls 2 and 3 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The lower U-shaped ends of the arms have parallel spaced apart branches 28 which lie alongside vertical slots 29 and 30 formed in the side walls 2 and 3 and are adapted to swing inwardly at the casing through such slots as shown in Figure 6. The rollers 18 and 19 extend inwardly of the casing through central openings 31 and 32 formed in the side walls, as shown in Figure 2. The upper ends 33 and 34 of the arms are offset from the central and lower portions of the arms and the inner surfaces are formed with axial recesses 35 and 36.

A pair of retaining rods 37 and 38 are provided and are disposed on the outside of the side Walls 2 and 3 vertically above the arms 22 and 23,. The rods 37, 38 have their lower ends seated in the recesses 35 and 36, as

shown in Figure 2. The rods have laterally extending inwardly directed retaining members 39 and 40 formed thereon, the retaining members extending inwardly of the casing through openings 41 and 42 formed in the side walls. The rods 37 and 38 are each shaped in the form of a crank and have elongated vertical sections which lie on the outside of the side walls 2 and 3. The rods have horizontal inwardly extending upper sections 43 and 44 that pass into the casing through openings 45 and 46 formed in the side walls 2 and 3 adjacent the top wall 4. The portions 43 and 44 are suitably connected together for common actuation of the rods, and as shown inFigtires 2 and 4, the upper portion 43 has an offset integral eye 47, which lies alongside the end of the portion 44, the latter portion having a lateral extension 48 providing a handle which passes through the eye. The handle 48 extends through the front wall 6, which has a vertical elongated slot 49 to receive the handle 48.

Spring arms 50 and 51 underlie the handle 48 and are suitably attached as at 52 to the inside of the front wall 6, the spring arms functioning to oppose the downward movement of the handle 48 in the slot 49.

Such forced downward movement of the handle 48 results in an outwardly swinging movement of the rods 37 and 38 since the movement of the handle 48 directly atfects the rod 37 which is translated to the rod 38 through the eye connection.

As shown in Figure 2, the replacement roll 16, after it is inserted through the opening in the front wall 6, seats on the retaining members 39 and 40 and is thereby heldabove the roll 17, which is in use and which is ro tatably mounted on the rollers 18 and 19, the paper thelrefrom being threaded through the slot 11 in the front wal 6.

In operation, when the paper on the roll 17 is entirely used up and the roll is spent, then upon pulling handle 48 downwardly against the action of spring means 50 and 51 the replacement roll 16 automatically falls into a position where it is caught and held in proper registry with its core ends in line with the rollers 18 and 19, while the core 20 is dropped to the bottom wall 7 where it can be removed by opening the bottom wall. The intercon- 3 nccted mechanism for automatically accomplishing such result operates as follows:

Considering the relative positions of the rods and arms in Figures 2 and 6, it will be noted that when the handle 48 is pulled downwardly in the slot 49, the rods 37 and 38 are swung outwardly since the horizontal portions 43 and 44 are moved downwardly, the juncture portions between the rods and the horizontal portions pivot ng on the bounding walls of the openings 45 and 46 WhlCll serve as fulcrums.

Movement of the rods 37 and 38 into their outwardly swung positions causes the retaining members 39 and 40 for the replacement roll to be moved outwardly through the casing openings 41 and 42 and out of the way of such roll so as to support it no longer. Thus, the replacement roll 16 is released and drops by gravity in the casing.

Simultaneous with the outwardly swinging movement of the rods 37 and 38 is the swinging movement of the arms 22 and 23. The lower ends of the rods 37 and 38 move the upper ends of the arms outwardly about pivots 27 since they travel in the recesses 35 and 36, while the lower spaced apart members 28 of each of the arms move inwardly. The rollers 18 and 19 are hence moved outwardly to release the core 20, which falls downwardly through the space provided between the arm members 28 of each arm. However, the falling replacement roll 16 will be guided between the front and back walls and 6 of the casing as the distance between such walls 18 only slightly greater than the diameter of the replacement roll; and such falling roll will simultaneously be caught and held by the inwardly directed roll catching and positioning members 28 of the arms. This is shown in F1gure The arms are so formed and pivoted intermediate their ends, that there is a relationship between the pivot point and the point where the rollers 18 and 19 are carried. Thereforethe replacement roll is held by the lower ends at a point where the core thereof is axially aligned with the openings 31 and 32 so that when the rods 37 and 38 are released and the springs pull the rods inwardly to their normal positions, the arms 22 and 23 will swing inwardly in such a way as to place the rollers 18 and 19 automatically within the ends of the core of the caught roll.

For ease in mounting the casing on the wall, the back wall 5 is formed with a conventional type mounting slot 53. It is obvious that the paper from the roll 17 may be easily threaded through the slot 11 and also the slot 11 may be more in the nature of an opening, that is, of substantial vertical extension, so that the hand can be passed therethrough to initially start the paper dispensing through the front wall.

It is to be particularly noted that the roll catching and positioning members 28 of each of the arms are spaced laterally apart a distance greater than the diameter of a core so that the core, when released from the rollers 18 and '19 will fall freely down through the inwardly directed members 28. But a roll of paper will be caught and held in proper position by such members. In this connection, it will be noted that suflicient space is provided between the bottom 7 of the casing and the caught roll for receiving and accommodating the released core 20.

Since the receptacle and dispensing device is intended also for use in commercial establishments, it is intended, for such use, that the door 12 be provided with a lock which will be of the key type and will include a keeper that will slide or rotate on the inside of the door, at the free end thereof, and engage the front wall of the casing to hold the door locked in place. Such locking feature will prevent the unauthorized opening of the door and purloining of the replacement roll. Of course, for the purpose of increasing the appearance of the device, it is also intended that an outer shell or casing be provided, which would conceal the arms and operating linkage.

The above description and the attached drawings disclose one form of the invention but other forms may be made as come within the scope of the attached claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined storage receptacle and dispensing holder for rolls of paper comprising a housing including opposing vertical side walls, said walls being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the axial length of rolls adapted to be positioned therebetween, said walls having aligned openings, a pair of arms vertically disposed axially along the outside of the walls and pivoted thereto at a point adjacent their lower ends, roll supporting members carried by the arms above the pivots and extending inwardly of the arms for insertion through said openings to engage the ends of a roll of paper and rotatably support the same, so that the paper can be unwound from the roll, a pair of aligned retaining members extending laterally inwardly of the walls above the arms and slidable through the walls, said retaining members in their inward positions holding a replacement roll above the roll in use, means carried by said retaining members for simultaneously moving them outwardly of the walls to release the replacement roll and means carried by the upper ends of the arms and engaged by said foregoing means for swinging the arms about their pivots to swing the upper ends outwardly and withdraw the roll supporting members to release the used roll, said walls having openings lying alongside the lower ends of the arms to receive the lower ends of the arms, which swing inwardly and catch the released replacement roll and position it for engagement of the ends thereof by the roll supporting members.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means carried by the retaining members includes rods extending vertically of said walls and having lateral inwardly extending upper ends fulcrumed on the walls, for swinging said rods outwardly from the wall and means actuating said lateral ends.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said last means includes an eye on one of said lateral ends, an offset on the other extending through the eye, said offset being vertically depressible to force the lateral ends downwardly simultaneously.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said last means includes an eye on one of said lateral ends, an offset on the other extending through the eye, said offset being vertically depressible to force the lateral ends downwardly simultaneously, and spring means connected to said lateral ends for urging them upwardly.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means carried by the upper ends of the arms includes axial recesses in said ends receiving the means carried by the retaining members, said last means including rods having their ends seated in said recesses.

6. In a storage receptacle and dispensing holder for rolls of paper or the like, spaced apart roll supporting members fen-engaging the core of a first roll to support said roll at a predetermined position, supporting means for a replacement roll above said predetermined position mounted for movement to hold and release said replacement roll, movable mechanism supporting said spaced apart members for inward and outward movement whereby said members can be engaged and released from said core of said first roll, means interconnecting said movable mechanism and the replacement roll supporting means to release said replacement roll upon release of the core of said first roll, and means mounted for movement with said mechanism for automatically catching the replacement roll upon release of said core and holding said replacement roll at said predetermined position for proper registry with said spaced apart roll supporting members.

7. In a storage receptacle and dispensing holder for rolls of paper or the like, a pair of spaced apart generally upright arm structures each pivotally mounted intermediate its upper and lower ends for inward and outward swinging movement whereby the lower portions of said structures below their pivotal mountings will move inwardly simultaneously with outward movement of their upper portions above such pivotal mountings and vice versa, and spaced apart roll supporting members carried by the upper portions of said arm structures for engaging the core of a roll to support said what a predetermined position when said upper portions are in an inner position and releasing the core when said upper portions are in an outer position, the lower portions of said arm structures when moved inwardly providing means for automatically catching a replacement roll upon release of said core and holding said replacement roll at said predetermined position for proper registry with said spaced apart roll supporting members.

8. In a storage receptacle and dispensing holder for rolls of paper or the like, a pair of spaced apart generally upright arm structures each pivotally mounted intermediate its upper and lower ends for inward and outward swinging movement whereby the lower portions of said structures below their pivotal mountings will move inwardly simultaneously with outward movement of their upper portions above such pivotal mountings and vice versa, and spaced apart roll supporting members carried by the upper portions of said arm structures for engaging the core of a roll to support said roll at a predetermined position when said upper portions are in an inner position and releasing the core when said upper portions are in an outer position, the lower portions of said arm structures when moved inwardly providing means for automatically catching a replacement roll upon release of said core and holding said replacement roll at said predeter- 6 I; mined position for proper registry with said spaced ap roll supporting members, each of said lower portions of said arm structures including members spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of said core so that the core can fall freely therepast whenreleased.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 including means for supporting said replacement roll above said predetermined position mounted for movement to hold and release said replacement roll, and means interconnecting said. arm structures and said replacement roll supporting means to release said replacement roll upon release of said core.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said roll supporting members on said arm structures arepositioned with reference to the bottom of the receptacle to provide a space between said bottom and said predetermined roll supporting position for receiving the core when it is released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,330,639 Leumann Feb. 10, 1920 1,728,454 Sterling Sept. 17, 1929 2,272,669 Johnson Feb. 10, 1942 2,312,825 Leveque Mar. 2, 1943 2,407,971 Black Sept. 24, 1946 2,603,427 Holmes July 15, 1952 2,620,991 Deflenbaugh Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 537,566 Germany Nov. 4, 1931 

